FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Water Quality Control Commission Approves Conservation Protections for New Mexico's Most Special Waters

        Contacts:
        Rachel Conn, Amigos Bravos: 505-758-3874
        Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, WELC: 505-751-0351

State Water Quality Control Commission Approves
Conservation Protections for New Mexico’s Most Special Waters

On Tuesday, June 12th, the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) approved revisions to the State’s rules governing the protection of New Mexico’s most special waters. These recreationally and ecologically important rivers, streams and other waters, technically referred to as “Outstanding National Resource Waters” (ONRWs), are afforded special protections pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act. The decision comes on the heels of a 2-day public hearing held in April where the WQCC listened to evidence submitted by the N.M Environment Department, Amigos Bravos, U.S. Forest Service, San Juan Water Commission, and several members of the public.

"We applaud the WQCC's decision as it respects the people's will to protect the two existing ONRWs in New Mexico: the Rio Santa Barbara and the Valle Vidal," said Rachel Conn with Amigos Bravos. "Moreover, the decision respects the people's connection to these waters by allowing pre-existing activities, such as acequia irrigation and restoration projects, to continue unimpeded."

Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, an attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center who represented Amigos Bravos during the rule-making process and WQCC hearing, and prior two designations for the Rio Santa Barbara and Valle Vidal, added, "ONRW protections approved by the WQCC offer a solution to many of the threats faced by New Mexico's waters, such as from Global Warming. By protecting existing ONRWs, and designating new, ecologically important ONRWs, we can improve the resiliency of our environment and thereby protect water quality for all New Mexicans."

The Rule will:

• Empower river, stream, and surface water restoration work in ONRWs.

• Respect pre-existing activities in ONRWs, such as grazing and acequia irrigation, by, for example, allowing maintenance work to continue these activities into the future.

• Limit any degradation caused by restoration or maintenance work in ONRWs to the shortest possible time and subjects any degradation lasting longer than 12 months to WQCC approval.

• Provide for the New Mexico Environment Department to enter into agreements with agencies responsible for ONRW management, such as the U.S. Forest Service, subject to WQCC approval and public participation.
  

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